BOE Not Voting on New Attorney, New Business Removed, Citizens Hearing Removed, Curriculum Re-Adoption

The primary purpose of this Board of Education (BOE) meeting is for the reorganization of the Board of Education.

New members Natasha Joly and Sai Bhargavi Akiri will officially be sworn in, and all members of the BOE will take the Oath of Office.

Two Board members have a phonetic spelling of their last names next to their actual last names. This was likely intended as a personal notation

During this meeting, all eight members will nominate and vote on electing a President and Vice President of the Board to serve a one-year term. It is important to note that at the December 2023 Board meeting, the Board voted to give the Board President sole authority in placing members on committees with no input required or requested from other members. 

RESOLUTIONS – REORGANIZATION

B. OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT

The language under required procedures interests me; it was not part of the 2023 reorganization meeting. The language reads:

Board shall require the following procedures pertaining to public participation at Board meetings:

● Any individual desiring to speak shall give his or her name, address, and the group, if any, that is represented.

● The presentation shall be as brief as possible but no more than four (4) minutes per individual.

 • The Board vests in its president, or other presiding officer, authority to terminate the remarks of any individual if he/she deems it in the best interest of those present to do so.

It is unclear if these procedures are new or only pertain to groups making presentations. But, due to confidentiality, the Board does not ask for street addresses, nor has it requested this information from citizens for the past 3+ years. The presentation time allowance of 4 minutes also does not coincide with the time allowance (3 minutes) for the citizens’ hearing portions of the meeting.

C. DESIGNATION OF ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULE

An additional meeting dedicated to the budget is missing from the calendar of meetings, which the public has requested for the last three years. For reference, the proposed budget occurs in mid-March, and the final adoption is in mid-April. Between the proposed and final adoption, no meetings are scheduled. 

G. RE-ADOPTION OF CURRICULUM

Looking back on the past 5+ years of re-org meeting agendas, this was not something the Board voted on. Historically, the Board votes to approve curriculum during the summer. It is unclear why this is on the agenda for approval or if changes have been made, and the Board will have a discussion.

H. ADOPTION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN

No attachments are provided outlining this plan or any changes made for the public to review.

Q. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND PURCHASE MANUALS

The operating procedures have been revised, but like other items, no attachments exist to review changes made.

What’s interesting to note that the items missing from this agenda were incorporated into the re-org meeting over the last 5+ years.

Components that are missing from this reorganization agenda are of more interest than that what is included.

Key annual appointments are missing from this agenda; Special Education counsel, Board Counsel, Insurance carrier, Auditor, etc.

Also missing is the second citizen hearing on any topic. Two public comment sections have been standard at Board meetings.

Another interesting note is that it appears the District is planning to have the prior Board attorney present. For reference, the Board Attorney is appointed each year, by the full Board, for a one-year term.

In light of the expiration of the previous appointment, and until a new President is selected and then appoints a Board attorney, there is really no reason any attorney should be present.

Except for 2023, the Board attorney has not attended the re-org meeting.

Also interesting is that appointing a Board Attorney is not part of this agenda.

The last item missing, which has historically been included in the Board agenda, is “New Business.” The absence of this item on the agenda leaves many questions regarding possible limitations on free speech.

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